As a profession committed to positive patient outcomes, we need to ensure that the percentage of patients happy with dental experience continues to rise.
As we get older our dental treatment becomes more complex and multi-faceted, gums recede etc. – we are wearing out! The assessment and planning of treatment can mitigate some of these issues and then explaining this clearly and sensitively to the patent will help manage expectations and reduce anxiety.
By helping patients understand, in laymen’s terms, what is involved, helps them put the cost in context and avoid the ‘magic box syndrome’ after all we don’t know what we don’t know! This will help the patient feel well informed but not overwhelmed.
So ‘Assessment, Planning and Explanation’ will help put a smile on our patients faces both figuratively and literally.
Open Wide
Observe, listen, feel, touch and smell are still the basis is of diagnosis. Good practice in these fundamentals of a CDT’s (Clinical Dental Technician’s) work ensure broader aspects of treatment and even lifestyle will be opened up for discussion.
Team around the patient
We are the provider/coordinator of treatment but it is always a team effort. Starting with the friendly receptionist taking phone call, making the appointment, through to the treatment by experienced Dental professionals and following up with the feedback and aftercare (we offer free annual check-ups for existing patients)
A CDT can provider many forms of prosthesis (subject to those who are dentate, seeing a dental practitioner first for the initial dental examination)
Why is this? It is legally requirement that ONLY Dental practitioners can examine real teeth, roots and implants, which may need repair before dentures are provided.
This team effort illustrates how closely the Dental technician and CDT work together in the service of the patient. This will help us allay the fears and anxieties of patients, particularly those who are dental aphobic. We need to balance the amount of information given to ensure it does not become overwhelming, thus putting you at ease. Every patient is different and responding sensitively to patient’s views will ensure smiles all round.
Nigel Towner
CDT RCS
01379 676560‬